Beam tube having selective switching means



Oct. 3, 1961 J. H. LEMELSON 3,003,109

BEAM TUBE HAVING SELECTIVE SWITCHING MEANS Filed June 14, 1955 Bl B2 P83 SWPl (SWPZ (SWP3 22 IN VEN T OR. Jerome H.Lemelson Patented Oct. 3, 1961 3,003,109 BEAM '1 UBE HAVINISEEQEISECHVE SWITCHING Jerome H. Lemelson, 72 Prescott Ave., Staten Island, N.Y.

Filed June 14, 1955, Ser. No. 515,417

7 Claims. (Cl. 328-64) This invention relates to selection switching devices and, more particularly, to magnetron beam tube switching devices.

The single figure shows an improved selection switching device applicable to various selection connection and computing operations such as those involved in automatic circuit connecting and in automatic machine control.

The selective pulse train generator '10 of the figure employs as a means for generating trains of pulses a magnetron beam switching tube MBS such as the type manufactured by the Electronic Tube Division of the Burroughs Corporation of Plainfield, New Jersey. These tubes generally employ ten identical switching positions mounted radially about a central cathode referred to as CA in the drawing. Four switching positions -4 are illustrated in the figure. Each individual position contains three electrodes, viz. an associated target T, referred to in the drawings by the notation T T T etc., for receiving the beam generated from said cathode, a spade S, referred to by the notation S S S S etc., and utilizable for various beam forming, locking, switching and clearing functions, and a switching grid electrode 86, referred to by the notation SG 8G S6 56 etc., and used primarily for beam switching function.

Associated also with each switching position and provided externally of the tube MBS for the purpose of effecting the generation of a desired number of pulses on a common output line 20 which is connected to each target, is a multiple contact switch SWP, having the nota tions SWPl, SWPZ, SWP3, etc., in the figure and operated by a normally retracted push button PB, which push buttons have notations PBl, PBZ, PBS, etc; Each switch SWP has two pairs of normally closed contacts KD, KC, and KB, KB and a set ofnormally open contacts KA, KB which contacts have corresponding numerical notations to associate them with their particular switching positions.

In the switch illustrated in the figure, the function of dialing to efiect the generation of a pulse train may be completely eliminated. 7 Discrete pulses are produced on an output line 20 when an actuator at each switching position is energized without mechanical movement of components other than the action of manually depressing a selection push button switch. The beam formed across the tube from the cathode CA to the targets T thereof may be utilized to produce discrete pulses at a consider ably higher frequency than those produced by the conventional rotary switch, thus reducing response time of the selection operation.

target beam switching tube will automatically switch or step a beam in a given clockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending on the design thereof, from one target position to the next adjacent target position by lowering the potential of either the grid of said next position or that of the target or space. In the figure, each target is connected to a common output line 20 which may be electrically connected to a computing or selection apparatus 22 such as a conventional telephone automatic switching system.

1 In the operation of the multiple pulse emitter of the figure, a beam is first formed across the cathode CA of the switching tube MBS and locks on zero target T by the actuation of a double pole switch SWF which, when actuated, closes two circuits simultaneously. One of said circuits includes a negative potential sourcePS and the zero spade S which sulficiently lowers the potentialof 5, said spade to form and look a beam from the cathode CA and said zero target position. The second circuit includes a source of suflicient potential PS which is gated to CA and is sufficieut to generate said beam as described.

SWF may be, for example, a spring loaded normally 10 open switch of the type employed in the conventional telephone which is actuated to complete said circuits when a weight such as a telephone head piece is lifted therefrom. The switch SWF may also be any type of manually or automatically actuated switch.

The figure illustrates four switching positions. Push button switches SWP are provided and associated with each position which switches are actuated by finger operated push buttons PB, which are spring loaded to project outward from their mounts. When each push button PB is depressed, normally closed contacts KD, KC and KE, KF are separated while normally open contacts KA, KB are brought together. Actuation of the push button at the number 3 switching position will be described for the purposes of illustrating the operation of the device 10.

When the push button PB3 of SWP3 is normally de' pressed, contact KB3, which is mounted on the end of a cantilevered spring, breaks away from contact KD3, breaking the circuit between SWPS and all switches to the right or clockwise thereof. After arm K breaks away from KD3, the contact K133 touches contact KA3 completing a circuit between PS and all the switching grids $6 to 86 counterclockwise of position 3 and PS. PS is any source of negative potential impressed across the grids SG to SG which is capable of lowering the potential of said grids a suflicient degree to effect the switching or stepping of the beam formed across the target T to the targets up to and including T Thus, three pulses will be passed or emitted over the common output line 20 after the beam has switched and which may be used for various control, totalizing or selection functions. The pulses may be used, for example, to set up decade relay banks, counters, etc. They may be transmitted to magnetic memory devices for computing purposes or may be utilized to efiect totalizing or subtraction in counting mechanisms. I

' As the time it takes for the beam to switch from one vtarget to the next may be short and in the order of microseconds, the emitted pulses will have a very short time interval between them. As this may be too short for certain electrical devices to discriminate one pulse from the next, the time interval between pulses may be increased by connecting only every other or every third target to said common output line 20, so that said time interval or distance between pulses will be proportional to the time it takes to switch the beam to the next output connected target which includes the time it remains at the non-connected target plus the time it takes to switch to said output line 20 may be grounded or dissipated through any type of load.

In the figure, one push button switch SWP is provided and is associated with each switching grid for lowering the potential thereof and all grids on the counterclockwise or left side thereof. Each switch has two cantilever mounted arms. A first arm K has a first pair of contacts KC, KB. KC normally closes against a stationary contact KD. Contact KB may be urged against a second stationary contact KA by manually depressing the push button PB. The action also effects the separation of 70 contacts KD, KC. Conductors WA connect the cantiswitching positions so that when the push buttons PB The switch 10 operates anthe piimiplet aate mma eieglllieflmowing Iafget. ThQSe targets o ilcfinn o,

3 are in their normal or unactuated condition, a complete conducting circuit exists across all of the KC and KD contacts. A conductor connects the arm K of switch SWP to one'te'rminal of a power supply PS. P5 is of such a value that when it is connected in circuit with two or more of the switching grids SG when the respective switch SWP is depressed, it will set the common grid bias of each below the so-called stable point and the beam will rotate and switch from target to 7 target at a rate determined by the spade RC constants.

The lowering of the grid bias of all grids prior to and including the grid of the selected positionis elfected by depressing the push button PB associated with the selected grid or target position. This breaks a circuit between the selected position and alltclockwise positions beyond it by separating the contacts KD, KC and KB, KF. When the contacts KA, KB are brought together, a circuit between all prior (counterclockwise) positions and the grid negative biasing potential source PST is completed. The beam formed on target T will then switch, and in doing so, will emit a discrete pulse or signal infiection on the common output 20 each time it sweeps past an output target connected thereto.

When the. negative bias on the switching grid to the left of the selected position is removed by release of the selected push button, the spade S which is at a lower potential than the rest of the spades will determine the return of the beam to the zero target T When each push button is depressed, contacts KB and KP open as the spring switch arm K of the double pole switch SWP is urged by the push button. This breaks the normally established circuit between PS and all grids to the right of the selected position whereas all grids to the left of said position are maintained in circuit with PS through the normally closed switches KB and KP. Thus, all grids to the left of the selected position are lowered in potential whereas all to the right are not.

Although there has been described preferred embodiment of this invention, many variations and modifications will now be evident to those skilled in the art and, therefore, the scope of this invention is to be limited not by the specific disclosure herein detailed, but only by the appended claims.

I claim: I

l. A selective pulse emitting device capable of emitting when actuated, a selected number of discreet electrical signals or pulses therefrom over a common output, said device comprising in combination a magnetron beam switching tube, having a cathode, multiple targets spaced substantially equidistant from said cathode, said multiple targets electrically connected to said common output a first beam forming target therein, means forming an electron beam from the cathode of said beam switching tube to said first target, means causing said beam' to automatically switch one at a time to multiple target outputs in the direction of switching of said tube said multiple target outputs being connected to said common output over which a pulse is transmitted each time said beam switches, and multiple selection means e'lfecting the rotary switching of said beam to any one of said target outputs emitting a pulse each time it steps from target to target in its travel to said selected target.

-2 A selective pulse emitting device capable of emitting when actuated, a selected number of discreet electrical signals or pulses therefrom over a common output, said device comprising in combination a magnetron beam switching tube having multiple targets spaced substantially equidistant from a cathode, each of said targets having a switching grid associated therewith, multiple targets or output anodes electrically connected to said common output, a first spade for forming a beam across a first target provided therein, means forming an electron beam from the cathode of said beam switching tube to said first target, said beam forming means comprising means completing a first circuit which includes Said magnetron beam switching tube cathode, said first target and an electron beam forming source of potential, and potential means for lowering the potential of the switching grid of said first target a suflicient degree to effect the formation of said beam tosaid first target, a second circuit including a potential source, conducting means electrically connecting each of the switching grids of each of said targets in circuit with each other and said grid lowering potential source, multiple electrical switches each associated with a specific target switching position and adapted, when energized to complete a circuit between said potential source and the associated switching grid associated therewith and all switching, grids, therebetween and said first target and adapted when energized to simultaneously break a circuit between said associated grid and all grids to follow, said switching grid potential source being adapted to lower the potential of all of said grids in said completed circuit a sufiicient degree to effect the automatic rotary stepping of said beam past each of said target outputs to a selected target, each of said targets being electrically connected to a common output, the result being the productioncf pulse over said common output each time said beam switched from one target to the next;

3. A selective pulse emitting device in accordance with claim 2 said circuit forming switches being normally open, manually operated, push-button type switches positioned on a panel accessible to the fingers of the human hand, and in an orderly andreferenced spacing such as in a conventional rotary selection switch, each of said push button switches being classified and adapted, when actuated, to effect the emittance of a predetermined number of discreet pulses over said common output, each of said switches normally completing a series circuit between respective switches adjacent thereto and when manually depressed, adapted to break the circuit with all switches on the beam advancing side of a selected switch which completes a circuit will all switches on the other side thereof including a source of potential and said respective switching grids still in circuit therewith to effect the lowering of said grid potentials a suflicient degree to effect the stepping of said beam past each grid target position to said selected target and to thereby effect the emittance of a selected number of pulses therefrom a pulse each time said beam switches, said common output being connected when said beam is first formed, to a selection computing or seeking circuit such as a telephone circuit selection system, said device being a decade pulse emitter having ten of said pushbutton switches each capable of effecting the emit tance of a diiferent number of pulses from one to ten and adapted to eiiect the return of said formed beam to a zero output target each time after said selected number of pulses has been emitted over said outlet line.

4. An electrical pulse train generator for producing a preselected number of pulses at a common output, said generator comprising a beam switching device including f j a beam emitting means, a plurality of targets substantially equidistant from said emitting means and substantially equidistant from each other, and control means individual to each of said targets; means for -forming an electron beam between said emitting means and a first of said targets; switching means, including a plurality of selectors associated with individual ones of said targets other than said first target, external of said switching device and electrically connected to said con- I trol means for switching said beam from said first target 5 to a' second of said plurality of targets when a chosen one of said selectors is actuated; said second target be ing associated with the chosen selector; said' beam switching from said first to said second target stepping successively to the ones of said targets which are interposed between said first and said second targets whereby a plurality of discrete pulses appear at said common output with the number of said pulses being determined by which of said selectors is actuated.

5. A selective pulse emitting device which when actuated is capable of emitting a selected number of discrete electrical signals or pulses therefrom, said device comprising a common output and a beam switching tube including multiple targets electuicalluanomiectedlmsaid .1.

common output, a cathode and a first beam forming target in said tube, a first means for forming an electron beam from said cathode to said first target and for causing said beam to move in a first direction to automatically switch to said multiple targets one at a time, a multiple selection means connected to said tube for efiecting automatic rotary switching of said beam to a selected one of said multiple targets whereby a pulse is received at said common output each time the beam steps from target to target in its travel from said first target to the selected one of said multiple targets; said tube including a switching electrode individual to each of the targets; said first means comprising a first circuit including said cathode, said first target, and an electron beam forming source of potential; said first means also comprising a potential means for lowering the potential of the switching grid of the first target a suflicient degree to effect formation of said beam at said first target; a first circuit connecting said electrodes in series; said selection means comprising a potential source and, in said first circuit multiple switches, associated with each of said electrodes; actuation of any one of said multiple switches connecting a selected one of said electrodes to said potential source while simultaneously connecting all of said electrodes in a first direction from the electrode associated with said first target to said selected electrode in series with each other and simultaneously breaking the circuit between said selected electrode and all electrodes therebeyond; said potential source being of a value sufiicient to lower the potential of the electrodes to which the potential source is connected whereby said automatic rotary switching is effected.

6. A selective pulse emitting device which when actuated is capable of emitting a selected number of discrete electrical signals or pulses therefrom, said device comprising a common output and a beam switching tube including multiple targets electrically connected to said common output, a cathode and a first beam forming target in said tube, a first means for forming an electron beam from said cathode to said first target and for causing said beam to move in a first direction to automatically switch to said multiple targets one at a time, a multiple selection means connected to said tube for efiecting automatic rotary switching of said beam to a selected one of said multiple targets whereby a pulse is received at said common output each time the beam steps from target to target in its travel from said first target to the selected one of said multiple targets; said multiple switches being normally open push-button type switches manually operable by depressing, positioned on a panel accessible to the fingers of the human-hand,=aad=aeraes ed Lu an" i orderly and referenced spacing, each of said push button eflfect the emittance of a predetermined number of discrete pulses over said common output, each of said switches normally completing a portion of said first circuit comprising a series circuit between respective switches adjacent thereto; a selection computing circuit connected to said common output; said device being a decade pulse emitter having ten of said push button switches each capable of eiiecting the emittence of a difierent number of pulses from one to ten and adapted to effect the return of said beam to said first target, designated a zero output target, each time after a selected number of pulses has been emitted from said common output.

7. A signal forming system comprising, in combination with an electron beam switching device having a centrally located electrode and a plurality of target electrodes spaced substantially equidistant from the central electrode, means for forming an electron beam between the central electrode and a first of said target electrodes, said target electrodes being electrically connected to the same output line for producing a signal thereon when a beam is present at a target, an externally actuated switching means for a plurality of said target electrodes, each of said switching means adapted, when actuated, to cause the beam formed on said first target electrodes to advance and sweep past a selected number of the other target electrodes to a selected target whereby an inflection is created in the signal on said output line during movement of said beam between each target electrode and a predetermined number of said inflections occur during the sweep of said beam to the selected position; a plurality of target electrodes not connected to said output line but interposed between electrodes which are connected to said line, each of the non-connected target electrodes adapted to receive said beam in its sweep whereby the inflection in the signal on said output line has a time duration equal to the time required for said beam to pass between targets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,137,157 Crudo Nov. 15, 1938 2,214,468 Lannerd Sept. 10, 1940 2,373,134 Massonneau Apr. 10, 1945 2,396,409 Berzer Mar. 12, 1946 2,428,089 Mumma Sept. 30, 1947 2,457,699 Marsen Dec. 28, 1948 2,481,398 Danisch Sept. 6, @1949 2,513,616 Begun July 4, 1950 2,547,838 Russell Apr. 3, 1951 2,565,103 Toulon Aug. 21, 1951 2,698,875 Greenwood J an. 4, 1955 2,795,732 Kuchinsky June '14, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 704,816 Great Britain Mar. 3, 1954 OTHER REFERENCES lub. I: Beam Switching Tubes, Haydn Brothers of switches being classified and adapted, when actuated, to New yv 

